We offer exactly the same makes and models of guitars that other retailers sell. We are able to sell them at wholesale prices because as a guitar dealer we do not have the expenses of a store, employees, and other similar costs. Because our overhead expenses are lower, we can afford to pass the savings on to our clients, often saving them hundreds or even thousands of dollars.

The primary differences are:

1. Flamenco guitars traditionally use cypress for back and sides and spruce for the top. Classical guitars usually use rosewood for back and sides, and spruce or cedar tops. A hybrid called “Flamenca negra” uses rosewood for back and sides but is built like a flamenco guitar.
2. Flamenco guitars are more lightly constructed, with thinner tops and different bracing. This gives a snare drum-like rasp and less sustain than classical guitars.
3. Flamenco bodies are often shallower, and string action is lower, allowing faster play. Flamenco guitars often include tap plates to protect the top and may use traditional tuning pegs instead of machines.
4. The result is a sound that is brighter and more percussive compared with the warmer, sustained tone of classical guitars.

Given premium-grade wood, master luthiers can craft outstanding guitars with either spruce or cedar, so “better” is largely a matter of taste. In general:

• Spruce is brighter, with a defined tonal edge and clear separation. It ages well, opening up over one to two years into a powerful, mellow tone.
• Cedar produces a darker, more rounded sound and is more responsive initially, though it does not improve with age as much as spruce.

Within each category there are variations: German and Englemann spruce offer rich overtones, while Sitka spruce is neutral with a strong fundamental. Canadian cedar and redwood deliver warm, enveloping tones.

Brazilian rosewood (Dalbergia nigra) is prized for its figured grain and density, yielding a bright, punchy sound but it may warp or crack more easily. It is protected under CITES Appendix I, requiring import permits.

Indian rosewood (Dalbergia latifolia) is typically straight-grained, offering a warmer, darker tone and greater stability. Choice between them comes down to tonal preference, budget, and legal considerations.

Alternatives include Madagascar rosewood (Dalbergia maritima) and cocobolo (Dalbergia retusa), which offer similar appearance and tonal qualities.

Traditional wisdom holds that French polish allows better sound transmission, but performance depends on thickness and hardness of finish rather than type. Lacquer can be applied as thinly as French polish and perform just as well.

French polish is delicate, scratching easily and reacting to heat or perspiration, so it may require refinishing over time. Its advantage is that repairs and refreshing are straightforward with new coats, making maintenance easier.

The key difference is body size. Granada school guitars favor a smaller, Torres-style body for a brighter sound. Madrid school guitars have larger, deeper bodies for a darker, more refined tone. Despite misconceptions about volume, modern Granada guitars project well.

Cost differences reflect overhead: Madrid makers generally have higher production costs, so comparable quality guitars tend to cost more than those from Granada.

Valuing a guitar sight unseen is difficult. For a reliable estimate:

1. Verify make, model, year, and woods used (top, back, sides, fingerboard).
2. Assess condition (cracks, repairs, playability, neck warp, action height).
3. Compare with recent auction selling prices for fair market value.
4. If still in production, use current retail as a baseline and deduct 20–60 percent based on condition: Mint ~80 percent, good ~60 percent, fair ~40 percent.

Ultimately value equals what a buyer is willing to pay and how long you are prepared to wait.